Experts at Digital Foundry have shared new details regarding a potential handheld console from Sony. According to Richard Leadbetter, behind-the-scenes discussions suggest that Sony has secured "an exclusive of sorts" with AMD to use the next-generation RDNA 5 graphics architecture for its upcoming handheld device.
Leadbetter noted that the only other known AMD handheld chip currently in production, likely the Z3, is unlikely to feature RDNA 5. Sony and AMD have been collaborating closely for years, teaming up on 'Project Amethyst,' an initiative that ultimately delivered the PSSR 2 upscaling technology for the PS5 Pro and FSR 4.1.
The handheld market is currently facing challenges due to the ongoing RAM crisis and high manufacturing costs. Competition is also heating up, with Intel's Panther Lake (Intel Arc G3) chip reportedly outperforming AMD's current Ryzen Z2 Extreme, which still relies on the older RDNA 3.5 architecture. It is possible that Sony will be the only hardware manufacturer willing to absorb the added cost of implementing RDNA 5 for a handheld format.
Rumors of a dedicated next-generation PlayStation handheld have been circulating for a while. In June, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hideaki Nishino hinted that the company might lean toward hybrid, Nintendo Switch-like consoles in the future. Last year, insiders also reported on an unannounced PS6 handheld that would be dockable and fully backward compatible with PS4 and PS5 titles. There were also brief mentions of a potential PS6 S, which could serve as a budget-friendly alternative to the mainline console.
Competitors are also making moves. Reports indicate that Microsoft is planning its own handheld device under the Project Helix umbrella, aiming for a holiday 2027 release, just a year ahead of the next-generation Xbox home console. Microsoft's devices are expected to support FSR Diamond, which could also run on RDNA 5.
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